If one of the scholars of al-jarh wa al-ta'dil (the critique and vindication of narrators) said about someone, "He is one of the Abdal," and we searched but found no biography for him, is it permissible to take comfort in the statement of this person that he is one of the Abdal?
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The questioner : Regarding the mention... when it is said about a man that so-and-so was one of the Abdal, and you search but do not find a biography for him, but this person who said that so-and-so is one of the Abdal is known in the field of al-jarh wa al-ta'dil (the critique and vindication of narrators)... in the science of hadith, is it permissible to take comfort in his statement regarding the authentication or weakening of narrators?
The Shaykh : Is it permissible to take comfort in the statement of this person? Who do you mean?
The questioner : For example, the statement of Ibn al-Mubarak about a man named Ma'dan, where he said, "This is one of the Abdal." But we searched for a biography of him and did not find one. And there is a hadith in the interpretation of the statement of Sufyan al-Thawri[Al-Mulk 67:16], that he is in the sky, but we did not find... we found the statement of Ibn al-Mubarak about him that he is one of the Abdal. Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) argued with this, and Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) also argued with it in this chapter, even though he took comfort with it...?
The Shaykh : Do you mean, can it be said that this hadith of Ma'dan is authentic?
The questioner : No, it means it is strengthened by its corroborating narrations, or that one takes comfort with it, or that it is considered... valid.
The Shaykh : At the very least, it can be said from the hadith perspective that he is unknown, but he is among the righteous. One takes comfort with him, yes, without a doubt.
The Shaykh : Is it permissible to take comfort in the statement of this person? Who do you mean?
The questioner : For example, the statement of Ibn al-Mubarak about a man named Ma'dan, where he said, "This is one of the Abdal." But we searched for a biography of him and did not find one. And there is a hadith in the interpretation of the statement of Sufyan al-Thawri
Do you feel secure that He who [holds authority] in the heaven
أَأَمِنتُمْ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاءِ...The Shaykh : Do you mean, can it be said that this hadith of Ma'dan is authentic?
The questioner : No, it means it is strengthened by its corroborating narrations, or that one takes comfort with it, or that it is considered... valid.
The Shaykh : At the very least, it can be said from the hadith perspective that he is unknown, but he is among the righteous. One takes comfort with him, yes, without a doubt.